Lesson 6: Skin Disease and Disorders

Question 1

Form of cancer that affects the mitotically active stem cells in the stratum basale of the epidermis, most common of all cancers, found on head, neck, arms, and back, causes are UV rays, radiation, and arsenic, rarely metastasize

Answer 1

Basal cell carcinoma

Question 2

How does the basal cell carcinoma look like?

Answer 2

start in the stratum basale and usually spread along this boundary, begins to grow towards the surface and become an uneven patch, bump, growth, or scar

Question 3

Treatments for basal cell carcinoma

Answer 3

Surgery, freezing (cryosurgery), and topical ointments

Question 4

Cancer that affects the keratinocytes of the stratum spinosum, 2nd most common skin cancer, presents as lesions found on scalp, ears, and hands, more aggressive than basal cell carcinoma, can metastasize

Answer 4

Squamous cell carcinoma

Question 5

Treatments for squamous cell carcinoma

Answer 5

Surgery and radiation

Question 6

Cancer characterized by the uncontrolled growth of melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells in the epidermis, most fatal of all skin cancers, highly metastatic

Answer 6

Melanoma

Question 7

How does melanoma look like?

Answer 7

Resembles a mole, asymmetrical brown and black patches, uneven borders, and raised surface

Question 8

Treatments for melanoma

Answer 8

Surgical excision, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy

Question 9

What is the ABCDE mnemonic?

Answer 9

Helps with detection of early-stage melanoma

Asymmetry - two sides are not symmetrical
Borders - the edges are irregular in shape
Color - varied shades of brown or black
Diameter - larger than 6mm (0.24 in)
Evolving - its shape or size has changed

Question 10

Process by which some tumors produce cells that can mobilize and establish tumors in other organs of the body

Answer 10

Metastasis

Question 11

Inflammatory condition that occurs in individuals of all ages, an allergic reaction that manifests as dry, itchy patches of skin, accompanied by swelling of the skin, flaking, and in severe cases bleeding, sometimes people have antibodies against allergens in their blood

Answer 11

Eczema

Question 12

Treatments for eczema

Answer 12

Moisturizers, corticosteroid creams, and immunosuppressants

Question 13

Clogging of pores, which can lead to infection and inflammation, areas of skin rich in sebaceous glands (face and back), hormones like androgens, stimulate release of sebum, overproduction and accumulation of sebum along with keratin can block hair follicles

Answer 13

Acne

Question 14

How does acne look like?

Answer 14

Initially white, the sebum when oxidized, turns black. Acne results from infection by acne-causing bacteria, propionibacterium, which can lead to redness and potential scarring